The process is remarkably easy, though not without danger – fill a balloon with water, dip it up to the water level in melted wax and repeat. Go above the waterline and it might just pop. After a few times down and back, the exterior surface should be sufficiently waxed to form a rounded solid candle-worthy shape that can hold a small votive or tea light. After a few iterations, the resulting (cooled) candles should be tipped over and drained – and the water balloon remnants discarded. And to keep it level: setting the bottom on a solid surface during the process and the top after the balloon is removed should do the trick. For more science-minded types or slight thrill-seekers, these candles might make for a more festive holiday craft project than most. Full instructions at CandleTech.

Self-contained, portable and prefabricated, this Living Roof idea encapsulates an ideal of mobile and modular urban expansion the only way most cities can still go: up.

Besides the circular living room and the rectangular formal dining room – also open to the outdoors when its large glass doors are open – the first floor is one big, wide-open space. Shades of white are used extensively to let natural light bounce off of all of the surfaces and further add visual space to the home.